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For the last two years, the route was altered due to work in Rochester's East End and the Inner Loop. But come March, the popular parade will return its starting point to East Avenue and Alexander Street, said city spokeswoman Jessica Alaimo.

Thousands of area residents typically flock downtown for the annual shamrock-themed festivities. The 2017 parade will begin at 12:30 p.m. on Saturday, March 11.

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Webster residents Luke Peters and Caitlin Dailey kiss during the St. Patrick's Day Parade in 2016.(Photo: CARLOS ORTIZ/@CFORTIZ_DandC/File photo)

Parade organizers estimate that the event typically draws somewhere between 40,000 and 60,000 people along the 1¼ mile route.

"It will be nice to have it come by here again," said Alan Russell, director of operations for the City Restaurant Group, which operates the City Grill at East and Alexander. By starting the parade route in the East End, he said, it gives attendees more spots to watch the festivities, and numerous restaurants and bars that serve meals, drinks and offer restrooms.

The abbreviated route cut those East End bars off the parade route, sparking concern that fewer parade-goers would stop into bars and eateries outside the parade route.

But the altered route didn't adversely affect City Grill last spring, Russell said.

"We actually did better than usual because of the weather," he said with a laugh. "It was 65 degrees out so our patio was packed."

Heather Burbules, manager of Wall Street Bar & Grill on East Avenue, said she's excited to know that the route will again pass by the restaurant.

On the years, the parade started at Scio and East, patrons still frequented Wall Street Bar & Grill, she said. "But it seemed busier when the parade was actually passing by here."

Russell and Burbules both said they are looking forward to the 2017 parade.

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John Patrick Sullivan of Irondequoit shakes hands with 1-year-old Olivia Vongphachanh of Henrietta during the St. Patrick's Day Parade on Saturday, March 12, 2016. This was Sullivan's 27th year in the parade. CARLOS ORTIZ/@CFORTIZ_DANDC/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER